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A Pioneer of Midwest Genre filmmaking, Mark Burchett passes

A pioneer of Midwest Genre filmmaking, Mark Burchett passed away today at the age of 54. Mark Burchett (born April 20, 1960) is a Hollywood film director, screenwriter and film producer of horror movies.

Burchett was born in Cincinnati, Ohio. He was educated at Lakota High School in West Chester, Ohio and the University of Cincinnati’s College Conservatory of Music with a BFA in Broadcasting and Film. During high school he was active at the school’s radio station, WLHS, as well as the drama department, where he wrote and directed a student-run play in his senior year.

While in college, he worked as a producer of public service shows at radio stations WKRC-AM and WKRQ-FM (Q102).

In 1994, along with his wife,Denise Burchett, and Michael D. Fox, he formed production company B+ Productions. He directed the film Satanic Yuppies that was created with Michael D. Fox, and wrote or produced other horror films including Vamps, Vamps 2 and Hammerhead. He also worked as an Art Director on the independent features, Faded and Drip. He also directed the low budget horror film, Hell-o-ween. He recently completed work on the film Resurrection.

One of the biggest joys in his cinematic life was being very active for the past three year working during the summers on Star Trek Phase 2, a faithful re-telling of the Star Trek series.He brought exuberance, joy and compassion to the effort and found a home in the company of his co-creators.

The film Vamps was called “The GONE WITH THE WIND of stripper-vampire movies” by rock legend Alice Cooper, and Vamps 2 received 3 & 1/2 stars by b-movie guru Joe Bob Briggs.

Mark was also a founding member of SOFA, the Southern Ohio Filmmakers Association and has served twice as its President.
He leaves behind a loving family and a very wide circle of people he both supported and influenced. He was much admired and much loved.

He loved movies and storytelling. There has never been a truer friend and a believer in dreams that Mark.